We stayed at the Sihe Courtyard Hotel for five nights, December 17 to 22. Overall our experience was very good but it was tainted by the fact they had double-booked our room. Instead of the VIP room we had booked (in writing, several months in advance) for my wife and I and three young children we were split between two rooms on opposite sides of the courtyard.
The impression I got that this wasn't a mistake as such but they had taken a more lucrative offer for the VIP room. Having the kids (age 7,10 and 11) on the other side of the courtyard had some compensations but we were uncomfortable leaving the kids alone in a room in a strange country – and with day time highs of 1 degree C and night time temps below 0, tripping between the rooms in our robes/pyjamas was more than nippy. Instead of the VIP room they offered us two executive rooms for the same rate as the VIP room. I had to haggle hard and explain that while the two executive rooms might be worth more to them, being charged the same as the VIP room rate for what, to us, was an inferior option seemed unfair. They agreed to charge us just the rate for one executive room.
After we had booked I had read a Trip Advisor review similarly blighted by a botched booking at the Sihe. It's a shame these errors will make people think twice about staying at what is a very friendly, comfortable hotel.
The staff were friendly and spoke serviceable English, the rooms were clean, comfortable and warm and the complementary breakfasts were great for our crew: toast, jam, something like coco pops, omelets, yummy dumplings and other hot things.
We found great food everywhere we went – the best place nearby the Sihe we found was a noodle house at 69 Chaonei Nanxiaojie – their roast pork buns were superb but everything there was good.
The hotel location was good – we liked the rustic/messy alley and it seemed remarkably special to be staying in a single-storey traditional courtyard dwelling in a city of apartments and skyscrapers. The subway – five to 10 minutes walk away- was easy to use and spotlessly clean. We had trouble with taxis because they were designed for just 4 passengers and our family of five were not welcome passengers. We took to hiding our youngest behind us when we flagged down cabs, piling in when an empty one eventually came past and smiling through the driver's protestations when he counted heads.
The hotel arranged a driver to take us to the Great Wall and Ming tombs in a one day tour costing a total of 800 RMB.
Overall: a great place to stay that needs to sort out its booking systems.

Pros
Good Location - Within a walking distance from to the Forbidden city and Tienanmen square, as well as metro station.
Pick up from Airport - Big plus with Language barrier typical of China.
Pretty traditional Chinese cultural Look and Feel
Free Internet availability in all rooms with decent speeds
Mini Fridge in rooms
Reliable central heating & AC


Cons
Deluxe room turned out to be tiny, especially for a couple, felt like we were constantly on top of each other and also cluttered.
Really bad whiff from toilets probably owing to very old plumbing and drainage system.
Dismal Breakfast (especially for a westerner). Particularly disappointing.
Traditional chinese bed - very stiff mattress, had difficulty sleeping.
No bedside lighting or switch, got to get out of bed to turn off lights.
No western meals on dinner menu, purely Chinese cooking.

Had 4 nights here in mid-December. Great location - Dongsi subway station is only a short distance and you can walk to central western-style shopping in Wanfujing St. Also a walk to Forbidden City is do-able. Helpful staff with reasonably good English provided extra heaters if required even though the rooms were adequately warm (in December). Breakfast was a choice between western-style or Chinese and they would cook omelettes for you free of charge. Rooms were very clean and well-presented in the traditional Chinese style - bed mattresses were pretty firm but that is normal in China.

My sister and I stayed in this hotel for 3 nights in November. In the hotel, most of all the rooms open onto a long hall. If it were spring or autumn, we can stay nearby our room, sit in the chair , drink the coffee and look at a book, but it is winter now...
The breakfast is very delicious, it serves Chinese and Western buffet breakfast. And the room rate is very reasonable, they upgreeded our room to deluxe room and they sent us a bottle of red wine for free. The room is very beautiful, our bed is large with Chinese-style!
The person who works in the hotel is very friendly!